Game apparatus



y 1932- A. K. SMALL, JR 1,856,117

GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1930 ATTORNEY Patented May 3, 1932 UNITED STATES ALFRED K. SMALL, JR., OF OCALA, FLORIDA GAME APPARATUS Application filed February 27, 1930. Serial No. 431,822.

My invention relates to games and more particularly to that type wherein balls are driven or shot into goals.

An object of the present invention is to 5 provide a game which embodies a court having upstanding walls whose inner faces are formed with a semi-spherical shoulder which is so positioned that the center line of a ball will hit and rebound from the center line oi the shoulder and thereby permit the players to make angle shots from any point of the court.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game which involves the skill and accuracy of polo, as Well as the competitive element of auction bridge.

lVith the preceding and other objects and advantages in mind, the invention consists in the novel combination of elements, constructions and arrangements of parts and operations to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved 5 game apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 011 line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a similar view taken on line 4- 1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a court adapted for indoor use;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section 01 a modified form of the indoor court; and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the invention in detail a pla ing court is provided comprising a concrete base 5 of rectangular configuration and upstanding parallel side walls 6 and end walls 7. The end walls 7 are provided with longitudinally alined openings 8 which open into semi-circular goals or baskets 9 formed of reticulated material and which rest upon lateral extensions 10 formed with the base 5.

A plurality of resilient objective balls 11 is provided and a resilient king ball 12 is adapted to be driven against the objective balls by a suitable mallet. Each set of the objective balls is of a different color so as to be distinguishable by the players. At the start of thegame the balls are racked on a center line 15 extending transversely of the center of the court and for this purpose a diamond-shaped rack 16 having a central partition 17 is provided. Either of the players places the king ball on one of the quarter lines 17a farther-est from his goal 9 and drives the same into the racked balls to break them up. When all the balls have come to rest the player then makes a bid for score, after which the second player makes his bid. After the bidding is completed the highest bidder then plays 03 first driving the king ball in the direction of one of his objective ballsto drive the same into his goal. If successful the player then takes another drive. when the player fails to drive one of his balls into the goal it becomes the other players turn.

A laterally projecting shoulder is formed on the inner face of the walls 6 and 7 and has a rounded outer face 19 against which the balls are adapted to be driven when it is desired to make angle shots. The shoulder 19 is of such radius and is located at a point where its horizontal center will be struck by the center of the ball. This will cause the balls to rebound accurately. In addition the balls will not jump from the court.

To permit rain water to drain from the court suitable drain openings 20 are provided.

In the modification disclosed in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the court is constructed for indoor use and is adapted to be placed upon a carpet or other floor covering 21.

I11 the construction disclosed in Fig. 5 the court is constructed in sections 22 detachably held together by dowel pins 23, In lieu of the center and quarter lines 15 and 1701. the side rails are provided with transversely alined indicators 24.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 6 the court is constructed of channel members 25. A longitudinal sill of rectangular configuration 26 is accommodated in each of the channel-shaped members to balance the court and thereby hold the same against movement on the floor.

I claim:

1. In a game court, a substantially rectangular frame made up of channel-shaped members, a semi-circular in cross section shoulder projecting laterally from the inner face of each of the Walls and against which spherical game pieces are adapted to strike, and a rectangular in cross section balancing member filling each of the channel-shaped members whereby to hold the frame stationary to resist the impact-of.aballstrikingany side thereof.

2. In a game court, side Walls and ndwalls' defining an enclosure, said walls including a channel shaped member-having the Web portion thereof forming the inner lace of said walls, a shoulder formed Wit-l1"the,.:face of saidwebfportion providing a strikingsurface for resilient balls moving in said game m court, and a plastic fillingin the, bight portion 7 of said channel shaped members.

3. ,A game apparatus comprising acourt having enclosing Walls, said walls: com-prising channel members having leg portionsand a 25 Web portion connecting said legs, the Web portion of said channel members comprising the inner face of said Walls, a shoulder formed integral Withsaid Webs outstanding from the face thereof above ,said court, resilient 30 ball elements movable in said court and against said shoulders, and a 'plastiofilling in the channel portion between .the leg members ofsaid channel members. 1 ALFRED KL. SMALL, JR. 

